Folding bed



De-c. V22; 1931.. w. J. DUVALL FOLDING BED Filed May 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MIJ/AM aa/ALL Dec. 22. 1931.

W4 J. DUVALL FOLDING BED Filed May 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J'. DUVALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH` & DAVIS MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, `A CORPORATION MISSOURI j FOLDING 4BED Application sied nay a7, iaaa, serial Np. 366,413. j

construction is suchV that' when the ibed is extended for use the head board usually stands within the Vcloset opening. This is an objectionable feature as it detracts from the appearance of the bed when extended and renders the bed inconvenientA to use on account of the obstruction by the closet door of theheadofthebed. i '7"1' One of the objects of this invention,itherefore, is to provide a foldingbed structure by which the bed may be folded into acloset to be completely enclosed therein and when extended to stand wholly v outside of the closet door. j

Another object of this invention isV to pro-V vide a simple and effective mechanism Afor folding and extending the bed. n

Another object is to `provide a folding movement by which the b ed frame will be moved back into the closet in a. simple manner and without requiring a great effort on the part of the operator. j j

Further objects will appear from the-following description taken in connection with the `accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a bed structure embodying this invention shown in extended position. i vj Fig. 2 is a sideview of the bed in folded position within the closet. j

Fig. 3 is an enlargedv detailed plan view illustrating the means for tensioning the means for lifting the bed, y

Fig. 4 is a detailed drawing showing a safety device in use with atension spring; an Y Figs. `5 and 6 are Vviews similar to Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a bed frame which may be of any suitable construction. The bed is provided with a head board 2, separately mounted, and a foot board 3 and adapted to :carry a mattress 4. The frame 1 is supported ,at the foot board by a leg 5 on the foot board 3 and by a leg the frame 1 at the head thereof.

The bed is arranged to be folded into a closet indicated insection at 7. Secured to the floor within the closet is a base 8. This ture and is provided with variousjbrackets to which 'elements of the structure may be pivoted. or secured as described hereinafter. The base` 8 may beadditionallysecured by `base lmay be a casting orabuilt-up struc- 4 means of an anchor 9 which in turn is secured to the floor of the closet..

Pivoted at `10 on the base 8 is a .link 11. The other end ofthe link 11 is pivoted at 12 to slide ina slot 13 on the frame 1. A 1in1r14 is pivoted at 15 tothe link 11 and at its other end is -pivoted at 16 to a short link 17 which in turnris pivoted at 18 to the base 8. A link 19 is also pivoted at 15 to the link 11 and is connected at its other endto a spring 2().` The spring 20 is anchored to a bracket 21 secure to and firmly braced upon base 8.

The arrangement of this series of linksis such that when the frame 1 is lifted,` the spring 20 assists in'raising the frame' while the links11 and 14, controlled by the swing of Y i t the link 17 carry theA frame upwardly and When in rearwardly to` folded "position,

`folded position the bed frame is supported by the link 11, which stands nearly vertical, while the link 14 extends rearwardly at an angle and rests at its lower end on the base Y so as to provide a brace aga-inst which `the frame rests. During this movement the pivot 12 may `slide along the slot 13 in obedience to the action of other members of the structure 4now to be described.l

carry the frame y1 rearwardly to the insideofthe closet. During the lowering of the bed the reverse action takes place and this movement carries the frame forwardly out of the closet so as to stand wholly outside when extended.

The headboard 2 has pivoted thereto at its lower end at 26 a link 27 which in turn is pivoted at 28 to the base 8. A link 29 is pivoted at 3() to the headboard 2 and at 31 to the frame 1. This link serves tobrace the headboard 2 when the bed is in an extended position.

It will' be understood, of course, that the link connections are duplicated on the opposite side of the bed. The pivot 16 takes the form of a cross brace 32 connecting the correspondingT links on opposite sides of the bed. This brace 32 has connected theret'o a series of springs 33 which` are anchored at their rear ends' to the bracket 21.v These springs assist the spring 2O in balancing the weight of the bed during the folding and extending movements.

'The pivot 12 may also take the form of a bar extending across the bed and connecting corresponding links on opposite sides. This pivot has connected thereto a link 34 .which is pivoted at its vother end to a link 35 pivoted at 36 to the frame 1 and at 37 to the leg 5.

The operation of this bed is as follows: With the bed in an extendedposition as illustrated in Fig. 1 the same may be folded by simply lifting the frame at the footboardv 3. Theliftingeffort is assisted by both of the springs and 33 whose strength is such as to nearly balance the weight ofthe bed. During the upward movement the links 11 hinge at 10 on the base 8 so as to carry the frame upwardly. At the same time the'action of the link 23 on the leg' as described above carries the frame rearwardly into the closet. At the completion of this movement the head end of the frame whichis carried downwardly so as to come to rest near the floor and near the front endV of the base 8 as illustrated'in Fig. 2. ADuring-this movement the headboard 2 is raised and carriedv rearwardly by the action of the links 27 and 29 and a link 38 pivoted to the headboard at 26 and to the frame 1 at 39. In folded position ythe head board 'is supported by the links 27 and braced by ilinks 29'and 38, in a Aposition opposite the middle of the bed frame land spaced from the latter just enough to accommodate the mattress and bed clothes. In this position it provides a support for the mattress to lprevent its sagging. K

During the same movement the pivot bar 12 slides upwardly'in the slot 13. In response to this movement the link 34 causes the link to swing-about the pivot 36 so as to carry the leg 5 rearwardly and downwardly. This leg is further supported by a link 40 pivoted at 41 to the footboard 3 and at 42 to the frame 1. These links carry the footboard 3 to the folded position ,illustrated in Fig. 2. The movement for extending the bed is, of course, the reverse of that just described.

During this movement the springs 20 and 33 tend to support the weight of the bed so that the same may be lowered gently to the floor.

As the spring 20 is subject to considerable extension there is some liability of breakage in case a defective spring should be installed. Such breakage is, of course, liable to endanger persons using the bed. In order to eliminate this danger the structure shown in Fig. 4 has been devised. v

In this structure the spring 20 has included within its coils a rod or link 43 which is Ilexibly connected at 44 to rod 45 also enclosed within the coils of the spring 20. The rod 45 extends beyond the end of the spring 2O and into the bore of the'link 19 which is made hollow for that purpose.V The length of the link 43 is such that when the bed is folded and the spring released the length of the spring will be reduced to substantially the length off the rod 43. Accordingly in this position the flexible connection 44 will come at the end of the spring and permit the same to pivot at the end of the link 19 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The effect of the rods 43 and 45 is to prcventf parts of the spring 2Ov from flying about in case-of breakage.

While this device has been described as a unitary structure it will be understood that certain features or subfcombinations may be It is, therefore,'to be understood that this in'A yention isnot to be limited to the specilic details shown and/or described.

Having thus described the invention what is' claimed is:

1. A folding bed, comprising, a base, a bed' frame, and movable supporting connections between said base and said frame, including a supporting member pivoted to said base and engaging a medial portion of said frame, a

leg adapted to rest on the floor in front of said i base in extended position supporting the head ofsaid frame and connected to said member, and means controlling the movements of said connections to move said frame forwardly to extended position clear of said base and rearwardly to upright position over said base.

2. A folding bed, comprising, a base, a bed frame, and movable supporting connections bet-Ween said base and said frame including ar supporting member pivoted to said base and engaging a medial portion of said frame, a leg connected to and supporting the head of said frame and connected to said member, and

va link pivoted to said leg and to said base and controlling the movements of said connections CIA movements of said connections move said Y frame rearwardly to upright position over said base.

4. A folding bed, comprising, a base, a bed frame, movable supporting connections adapted to fold said frame on said base, a tensile spring positioned above said base for tensioning said connections, and a jointed rod within said spring telescopinggwith a member of said connections adapted to support said spring in case of breakage thereof.

5. A folding bed, comprising, a base, a rigid bed frame, a leg pivoted to the head portion f of saidframe, movable supporting connections between said base and said frame adapted to support said frame in folded position over said base and for moving said frame to extended position forwardly of said base, and means cooperating with said connections adapted to move said leg into engagement with the door forwardly ofsaid base to support said frame in extended position.

6. A folding bed, comprising, a base, a

rigid bed frame, a leg pivoted to the head portion of said frame, movable supporting connections between said base and said frame adapted to support said frame in folded position over said base and for moving said frame to extended position forwardl of said base, and connections between sai leg and said base and between said leg and said first connections adapted to move said leg intoengagement with the floor forwardlyof said base to support said frame in extended tion.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature this 29th day of A ril, 1929.

WI LIAM J. DUVALL.

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